Maastricht
Go for narrow streets, Romanesque churches and tunnels under the old fortifications in a Dutch city on the Belgian border.
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Maastricht is a city in the southeast of the Netherlands and the capital of the province of Limburg. It lies on both banks of the Meuse, where the river meets the Jeker, and it borders Belgium. The city is part of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, close to the German city of Aachen and the Belgian cities of Liège and Hasselt. Its history goes back to a Roman settlement at a river crossing, and the old centre still has two Romanesque basilicas, a 17th-century Town Hall and Helpoort, the oldest city gate in the Netherlands.
Most sights sit close together. The Vrijthof, the largest square, is lined with the Basilica of Saint Servatius, the Sint-Janskerk and many pubs and restaurants. Below the old fortifications, the Casemates form about 14 km of brick and limestone tunnels with guided tours, and the Caves of Maastricht are man-made tunnels in limestone quarries that you visit with a guide. Mount Saint Peter, about 171 m high, is the main recreation area south of the city, with panoramic views over the Meuse valley. A weekend covers the old town and the main museums. Add a day or two for the hills and the Jeker valley.
Maastricht in five
- Walk in from the stationVisit Maastricht says everything is within walking distance of the station, that bikes park free and that a Park & Ride suits cars. Skip the car in the center.
- Book the Fort Sint Pieter caves as a tourFort Sint Pieter and Grotten Noord are visited on guided tours listed on the Visit Maastricht site. Check times and booking there before you plan the day around them.
- Plan the Bonnefanten from its own calendarCheck what the Bonnefanten art museum is showing before you build a day around it, and confirm its opening days on the museum's site.
- Go in late November for the winter walkVisit Maastricht lists a Magical Winter Walk with light routes and a Vrijthof market from late November into December. Book rooms early, because the city fills on festive weekends.
- Carry your passport to AachenGermany has temporary border controls in place, according to gov.uk, so a day across the border can include an ID check even inside Schengen. Bring your passport.Aachen
Things to do in Maastricht
See all attractions in Maastricht
Need to know
- Airport
- Maastricht Aachen (MST) for some flights; Eindhoven (EIN) or Schiphol by train
- Getting there
- NS trains from Eindhoven, Utrecht and Amsterdam; check 9292.nl
- Getting around
- On foot in the center; buses and Park & Ride for drivers
- Best base
- Inside the old center near the Vrijthof
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with the border towns
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°ColdFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°CoolMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Spring, mildAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°WarmAugustRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Winter walkNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter walk
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Winter walkDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter walk
Average daily high and low in Maastricht, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Maastricht
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 94%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 45%
Maastricht
10:16 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°7°45%Monday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Tue8°2°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed10°1°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu8°1°0%Thursday: Clear. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri10°0°0%Friday: Clear. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat10°2°7%Saturday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sun9°3°14%Sunday: Fog. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 14%.
Updated 06:02 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to Maastricht
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Rules for Maastricht, checked
- Maastricht is in the Schengen Area, with no passport checks at the Belgian border. Check your visa needs at government.nl before you travel.
- Since 2012, Maastricht's coffeeshops have admitted only local residents under national and city rules. Check the municipality's current rules before you go.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the Netherlands.
- Service is usually included in restaurant bills, and rounding up is the usual way to tip. Check the bill first.
Plan around Maastricht
Region planner: Eindhoven, Nijmegen and the hills
Read the guideEindhovenDesign city on the rail line north
Read the guideNijmegenRoman history and the Waal river
Read the guideAachenCharlemagne's cathedral city just across the border
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleDays in Belgium and Germany count toward the same limit.
Read the guideAll of the NetherlandsThe far south next to the western cities
Read the guideMaastricht FAQ
Is Maastricht worth visiting?
Yes, as a weekend city with an old town, museums and a food scene, and a different feel from the western cities. It is more of an overnight stay than a day trip from Amsterdam.
How many days do you need in Maastricht?
Two days cover the old town, the Vrijthof, one museum and the Fort Sint Pieter caves. Add a third day for Aachen or the South Limburg hills.
Is Maastricht a day trip from Amsterdam?
It is possible by NS train, but it makes a long day. Staying a night or two lets you see the old town in the evening, when it is calmer.
When is Maastricht at its best?
Late spring and early autumn for walking and terraces, and November to December for the winter walk. Midsummer is warm; midwinter is quiet and grey.
Can you visit Belgium and Germany from Maastricht?
Yes, both are close by train or road, and all three countries are in Schengen. Days there count toward the same 90 in 180, and Germany has temporary border controls, so keep your passport on you.